Input apparatus

ABSTRACT

An input apparatus has a display unit for displaying an input object, an input unit for receiving a pressure input to the input object, a load detection unit for detecting a pressure load on the input unit, and a control unit for controlling to receive the pressure input when the pressure load detected by the load detection unit satisfies a load standard. The control unit controls such that the load standard for receiving the pressure input to the input object displayed in an interrupting manner is higher than the load standard for receiving the pressure input to the input object which has been displayed.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to and the benefit of Japanese PatentApplication No. 2008-331304 filed on Dec. 25, 2008, the entire contentsof which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to input apparatuses, and moreparticularly, to input apparatuses having touch panels.

BACKGROUND ART

For mobile terminals such as mobile phones, various input apparatusesused by users to operate the terminals have been developed according tofunctions and usages of each of the terminals. In many cases, an inputapparatus has mechanical keys or buttons arranged in advance on asurface of a body such that a user performs an input operation bydirectly pressing a finger or the like to the keys.

The mechanical keys (for example, a numerical keypad) of the inputapparatus of the terminal are normally arranged in advance to suit amain usage of the terminal. Accordingly, it is generally not possible tochange a physical arrangement of keys, once defined, later.

Recently, a variety of functions are incorporated in small mobileterminals. For example, the mobile phones have a digital camera functionand a music player function. There are mobile terminals such as a mobilephone having numerous supplementary functions incorporated therein inaddition to a function for a main usage of the terminal, and PDA(Personal Digital Assistant: mobile information terminal) having, as asingle terminal, a plurality of main usages such as schedule management,an address book and the like. If such terminals have keys fixedlyarranged, it may inconvenience the user significantly in usingparticular functions.

In order to resolve such inconvenience, there is disclosed an inputapparatus having a touch panel designed such that a transparent inputunit is arranged overlapping a front face of a liquid crystal displayconstituting a display unit (for example, see Patent Document 1). Theinput apparatus having such a touch panel is generally configured suchthat, when a graphical image of operation keys or buttons displayed on adisplay screen of the touch panel is pressed, the input unit at acorresponding position receives an input.

A folding mobile phone described in the above Patent Document 1 candisplay keys arranged arbitrarily on the display screen of the touchpanel to receive operation inputs by the user, and thus key arrangementscan be designed as desired. That is, this mobile phone provides anexcellent operability as capable of changing the arrangement of the keysto suit a function of the terminal when each function of the terminal isswitched. For example, when the user uses the digital camera functionincorporated in the mobile phone, this mobile phone displays anoperation unit for a digital camera on the touch panel and receivesoperation inputs. On the other hand, when the user inputs characters tocreate a message and the like, this mobile phone displays a keyboardlike a personal computer (PC) on the touch panel and receives inputs. Asstated above, this mobile phone having the touch panel can optimize asingle input apparatus to suit each of a plurality of functions andreceive operation inputs.

In addition, since the input apparatus having the touch panel receivesan input in the form of a user's direct contact (touch) of a finger orthe like to the graphical image (of the key or the button) displayed onthe display unit, the user can operate it highly intuitively. That is,the user operates the input apparatus by directly touching the key orthe button displayed on the screen with a finger or the like following aguide displayed on the screen of the touch panel. Accordingly, the usercan control the terminal extremely easily through intuitive operationsfollowing the guide displayed on the screen, which even offers an effectto reduce erroneous operations as a result.

In recent years, the mobile terminal having the touch panel as statedabove enables the user not only to make a normal telephone call and toperform operation inputs for creating a message but also to performoperation inputs to view (browse) contents delivered through theinternet and websites. In addition, the input apparatuses having thetouch panel are commonly used for not only the mobile terminals butalso, for example, ATMs (Automatic Teller Machines) of a bank and thelike and ticket vending machines at train stations. Moreover, in storessuch as fast-food shops, terminal equipment with the input apparatushaving the touch panel as above is used by a clerk to process ordersfrom customers. When the touch panel is employed as the input apparatus,the mechanical buttons and keys such as a keyboard are not essentialcomponents any more. Accordingly, since only a small area is required toarrange mechanical buttons and the like on the terminal apparatus, itenables downsizing of overall terminal apparatus. Therefore, it offers abroader choice of installation sites of the terminal apparatus in storesand train stations.

In addition, the touch panel employed as an input apparatus eliminatesnecessity of separately having a display unit for displaying variousinformation and an input unit for receiving operation inputs by the useras individual function units like a general design of conventionalapparatus, and enables to configure the information display unit and theinput unit on the same screen. Accordingly, it is possible, for example,to display keys of a keyboard on the touch panel for receiving an inputby the user while displaying a result of the input near the keyboard onthe touch panel. Thereby, the user can perform an operation input andconfirm the result of the input on the same screen.

As described above, the touch panel provides merits to enable toconfigure the input unit and the display unit on the same screen andalso to enable intuitive operation inputs. For that reason, the numberof various terminal apparatuses having such input apparatus has beenincreased more and more.

However, the input apparatus with the touch panel has a specific problembecause of its configuration to have the input unit and the display uniton the same screen and to receive the intuitive operation input. Theproblem is that, if timing for the terminal to receive the operationinput through the touch panel does not match timing for the user toactually perform the operation input to the touch panel, the terminalmay receive an operation input unintended by the user.

For example, it is considered a case, as shown in FIG. 9(A), in which anumerical keypad for receiving operation input is displayed on the touchpanel 300 by a message creation function of the mobile phone and aresult of the input is displayed in a display area in an upper area ofthe touch panel 300. FIG. 9(A) shows a state in which the user touches(performs a pressure input to) the numerical keypad on the touch panel300 and thereby characters “I will be heading very soon . . . ” aredisplayed. At this point, since the user has not finished creating themessage yet, the user tries to continue an input operation by touchingthe numerical keypad on the touch panel 300. It is to be noted that,since it is a conventional art known as a “multi-tap input method” toinput each character in a message using a numerical keypad of a mobileterminal, such as the mobile phone, by transiting kana charactersassociated with each key according to the number of input times of thekey, a description thereof is omitted.

If the mobile phone receives an incoming call with its telephonefunction while receiving input of characters in the message as statedabove, the touch panel 300 of the mobile phone displays a screen asshown in FIG. 9(B). In this manner, it is general to display informationsuch as a reception of an incoming call or a message that requiresimmediacy in an interrupting manner on a screen currently in use, evenwhen another function such as the message creation function is beingused. It may be considered that, at the moment that the user tries totouch the touch panel 300 to input a next character in the message in astate shown in FIG. 9(A), the display of the touch panel 300 is changedto an incoming call screen as shown in FIG. 9(B). In this case, the usermay touch a spot, where the user intended to touch before the display ischanged, immediately after the display is changed.

For example, in creating the message shown in FIG. 9(A), if the displayis changed to the incoming call screen shown in FIG. 9(B) at the momentthat the user tries to touch a key “6 (Ha)” on the touch panel 300, theuser may touch a “Reject” key on the touch panel 300 shown in FIG. 9(B).Accordingly, it results in rejecting the incoming call by the userunintentionally even if it was call from a person with whom the userneeds to talk.

In addition, in creating the message shown in FIG. 9(A), if the displayis changed to the incoming call screen shown in FIG. 9(B) at the momentthat the user tries to touch a key “4 (Ta)” on the touch panel 300, theuser may touch an “Answer” key on the touch panel 300. Accordingly, itresults in answering the incoming call by the user unintentionally evenif it was a call from a person with whom the user does not wish to talk.

Similar cases may happen not only when receiving an incoming call butalso when receiving a message. For example, if the mobile terminalreceives a new message while creating another message, the display maybe changed to a screen for selecting whether to open the new messagereceived at the moment that the user tries to input a next character. Insuch a case, the user may unintentionally perform an operation to openthe new message, resulting in opening Spam (nuisance message).

In addition, for example, a pop-up advertisement may be displayed in aninterrupting manner on the touch panel 300 as shown in FIG. 9(D) when auser views an internet website by using a web browser function of themobile phone as shown in FIG. 9(C). The web browser function enablesjump to a corresponding page or website in response to a touch (pressureinput) to underlined characters by the user. In this case, the pop-upadvertisement shown in FIG. 9(D) may be displayed at the moment that theuser tries to touch characters “Transfer Guide” displayed on the touchpanel 300 shown in FIG. 9(C). As a result, the user unintentionallytouches the pop-up advertisement.

It is reported recently that there is so-called phishing which promptsthe user to access a fraudulent website from a malicious pop-up displayor advertisement. Accordingly, it may penalize the user because of anunintended operation input to such pop-up display and the like.

In operation of the personal computers (PC), unlike the mobileterminals, it is possible to perform operation input to small keys andbuttons displayed on a relatively large display screen (monitor) byusing an input device such as a mouse. In this case, a display area ofobjects such as the keys and the buttons and that of the pop-upadvertisement are relatively small in comparison to an entire displayscreen. Accordingly, even if the objects such as the keys and thebuttons and the pop-up advertisement are suddenly displayed on thedisplay screen, the probability for them to overlap an object the userintended to input may be low.

As for the mobile terminal, however, since portability is valued, thedisplay screen is limited in size and thus the touch panel in a largesize is not normally mounted. In addition, in consideration of theoperability, objects such as keys and buttons displayed on the touchpanel cannot be too small. Accordingly, in case of the mobile terminal,it is a prominent problem that an interrupting object, suddenlydisplayed on the touch panel, overlaps another object to which the userintends to input.

In order to avoid a risk to receive an unintended input from the user asstated above, there is suggested an input apparatus capable of switchingvalidation/invalidation of an operation by the touch panel (for example,see Patent Document 2). A shown in FIG. 10(A), the Patent Document 2discloses an input apparatus 100 having a touch panel 310 with an inputunit 340 on top of a display unit 320.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS Patent Documents

-   Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-311224-   Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 08-076925

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

As shown in FIG. 10(A), the input apparatus 100 described in PatentDocument 2 has an area for an operation validating switch unit 400 forvalidating an operation input, at a part of the input unit 340. Theoperation validating switch unit 400 receives an operation input by theuser to validate/invalidate an operation input to the input unit 340.The input apparatus 100 validates an input to the input unit 340 if theoperation validating switch unit 400 is ON, whereas it invalidates theinput to the input unit 340 if the operation validating switch unit 400is OFF. The Patent Document 2 also discloses an input apparatus 100having the operation validating switch unit 400 separately from theinput unit 340, as shown in FIG. 10(B).

As stated above, the input apparatus 100 described in Patent Document 2can invalidates the operation input to the input unit 340 of the touchpanel 310 based on an operation of the operation validating switch unit400 by the user. Accordingly, if the user does not intend the operationinput using the touch panel 310, it is possible to avoid an erroneousoperation unintended by the user by invalidating the input unit 340.

However, the input apparatus 100 described in Patent Document 2 sets inadvance validation/invalidation of input to the touch panel based onuser's intention. Therefore, it is not possible to completely handle theincoming call and the pop-up advertisement suddenly displayed on thescreen in the interrupting manner as stated above (as shown in FIG. 9).

That is, the input apparatus described in the above Patent Document 2requires a user to set in advance invalidation of input to the touchpanel in order to avoid an input to the incoming call screen or thepop-up advertisement. Accordingly, it is not possible to handle theincoming call screen or the pop-up advertisement suddenly displayed onthe touch panel in the interrupting manner while the user inputs usingthe touch panel such as when writing a message.

In addition, although the input apparatus described in the above PatentDocument 2 can prevent the input to the incoming call screen and thepop-up advertisement suddenly displayed by setting in advanceinvalidation of input to the touch panel. However, since such settingdisables normal operation inputs as well, the user cannot input to theincoming call screen or the pop-up display based on the user's ownintention. In order to respond to the incoming call screen or the pop-updisplay displayed in an interrupting manner, it is necessary for theuser first to perform an operation input to validate inputs (that is, anoperation input to cancel invalidation) to the touch panel separately.It inconveniences the user when the user wishes to answer the incomingcall immediately.

A main characteristic of the touch panel is to be capable of providinghigh operability allowing a free configuration of a user interface withthe objects such as the keys and the buttons arranged (displayed) asdesired. However, it may diminish advantages of the touch panel such aseasy operation and convenience to provide a switch separately from keysand buttons for receiving operation inputs to the touch panel and torequire the user to operate the switch to validate/invalidate inputs tooverall touch panel.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention in consideration of suchconditions is to provide an input apparatus capable of receivingoperation inputs intended by the user while avoiding operation inputsunintended by the user, without diminishing the advantages of the touchpanel having the input unit and the display unit.

Solution to Problem

In order to achieve the above object, an input apparatus according to afirst aspect of the present invention includes:

a display unit for displaying an input object;

an input unit for receiving a pressure input to the input objectdisplayed on the display unit;

a load detection unit for detecting a pressure load on the input unit;and

a control unit for controlling to receive the pressure input when thepressure load detected by the load detection unit satisfies a loadstandard, wherein

the control unit controls such that a load standard for receiving apressure input to an input object displayed on the display unit in aninterrupting manner is higher than a load standard for receiving apressure input to the input object which has been displayed on thedisplay unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a mobile phone having an inputapparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating an internalconfiguration of the mobile phone according to the embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 shows diagrams illustrating an exemplary implementation structureof a touch panel, a load detection unit and a vibration unit of themobile phone shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a graph schematically illustrating an exemplary chronologicalchange in a load (pressure) detected by the load detection unit when auser presses an input unit of the touch panel;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating processing and operation according tothe present embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a highlight display and a pressed-downdisplay according to the present embodiment;

FIG. 7 shows exemplary displays of a display unit based on theprocessing according to the present embodiment;

FIG. 8 shows other exemplary displays of the display unit based on theprocessing according to the present embodiment;

FIG. 9 shows exemplary displays of the display unit based on theprocessing by a conventional mobile phone; and

FIG. 10 shows external front views illustrating schematic configurationsof a conventional input apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference tothe accompanying drawings. In the following embodiments, a mobile phoneis used as an exemplary mobile terminal with an input apparatusaccording to the present invention. However, the mobile terminal towhich the input apparatus according to the present invention isapplicable is not only the mobile phone but also any mobile terminalhaving a touch panel such as a PDA, for example. In addition, thepresent invention is applicable not only to the mobile terminal havingthe touch panel but also to any input terminal having the touch panelsuch as ATMs of a bank and ticket vending machines at a train station asstated above.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view illustrating a schematicconfiguration of a mobile phone 10 having the input apparatus accordingto an embodiment of the present invention. The mobile phone 10 has adisplay unit 32, a part of which is displayed in the figure, on a frontface of a terminal body, for displaying a variety of information andgraphical images of keys and buttons on a liquid crystal display (LCD),an organic EL display or the like. The mobile phone 10 also has an inputunit 34 constituted of a matrix switch and the like for receiving aninput by a user's finger or a stylus at a front face of the display unit32. According to the present embodiment, a touch panel 30 includes thedisplay unit 32 and the input unit 34. The mobile phone 10 furtherincludes an audio input unit 70 constituted of a microphone and thelike, an audio output unit 80 constituted of a speaker and the like, anda key input unit 90 constituted of at least one mechanical key.

Although the mobile phone 10 may additionally have a digital camerafunction unit, a One-seg broadcast tuner, a Near Field Communicationunit such as an infrared communication function unit, various interfacesand the like according to necessary functions, figures and detaileddescriptions thereof are omitted.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating a schematic internalconfiguration of the mobile phone 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the mobilephone 10 has a control unit 20, a touch panel 30, a load detection unit40, a vibration unit 50, a memory unit 60, the audio input unit 70, theaudio output unit 80 and the key input unit 90. The control unit 20controls and manages the entire mobile terminal 10 as well as eachfunctional block of the mobile terminal 10. As stated above, the touchpanel 30 has a structure that the input unit 34 for receiving input froma user is arranged overlapping the front face of the display unit 32.Thereby, the touch panel 30 receives operation inputs by the user aswell as displaying a variety of information such as a result of an inputaccording to each application program (hereinafter, abbreviated to an“application”).

The input unit 34 of the touch panel 30, upon detection of an input by acontact (pressure) of a user's finger or a stylus, outputs a signalcorresponding to a position where such input is detected. The touchpanel 30 is made as a know type such as, for example, a resistance filmtype, a capacitance type or the like. The display unit 32 performsdisplay according to each application, as well as displaying a graphicalimage of user interface, composed of various keys and buttons forreceiving operation inputs to the input unit 34 by the user, in apredetermined display area. Hereinafter, the graphical images of variouskeys, buttons and pop-up advertisements displayed on the display unit 32for receiving an operation input to the input unit 34 of the touch panel30 by the user are referred to as “input objects”.

The load detection unit 40 may be a strain gauge sensor, for example,and detects a pressure load on the touch panel 30 (or the input unit34). The vibration unit 50 may be, for example, a piezoelectric elementor an ultrasonic transducer and vibrates the touch panel 30. Aconstitutional relationship among the load detection unit 40, thevibration unit 50 and the touch panel 30 will be described below.

The memory unit 60 stores various applications and a variety of inputinformation, as well as functioning as a work memory. In addition, thememory unit 60 also stores a plurality of templates including variousinput objects to be used according to each application.

The audio input unit 70 converts user's voice and the like into inputsignals and transmits them to the control unit 20. The audio output unit80 converts voice signals transmitted from the control unit 20 intovoice. The key input unit 90 transmits a signal corresponding to anoperation input by the user to the control unit 10. Usages and functionsof the various keys constituting the key input unit 90 are definedaccording to an application to be used.

The mobile phone 10 further includes various function units necessaryfor providing functions as a usual mobile phone such as an antenna and awireless communication unit for transmitting and receiving a variety ofinformation such as voice call and e-mail data to/from a base stationvia the internet, wireless communication and the like. However, sincesuch function units have no particular distinction from known arts,descriptions thereof are omitted.

Next, the constitutional relationship among the load detection unit 40,the vibration unit 50 and the touch panel 30 is described.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary implementation structureof the touch panel 30, the load detection unit 40 and the vibration unit50 of the mobile phone 10 shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 3(A) is across-sectional view of a main section, whereas FIG. 3(B) is a planeview of the main section.

The display unit 32 for displaying various input objects on the touchpanel 30 is housed in a housing 12. In the input apparatus according tothe present embodiment, the input unit 34 is supported on the displayunit 32 via insulators 36 made of elastic members. In the inputapparatus according to the present embodiment, the display unit 32 andthe input unit 34 are rectangular in a planar view. Although the touchpanel 30 is square in FIG. 3, it may be oblong in accordance withspecifications of the mobile terminal mounting the touch panel 30. Inthe input apparatus, the input unit 34 is supported on the display unit32 via the insulators 36 arranged at four corners outside a display areaA of the display unit 32 indicated by virtual lines in FIG. 3(B).

In addition, in the input apparatus, the housing 12 is provided with anupper cover 14 for covering a surface area of the input unit 34 outsidethe display area of the display unit 32. Insulators 16 made of elasticmembers are arranged between the upper cover 14 and the input unit 34.

The input unit 34 has a surface, that is, a face for receiving inputoperations, formed of a transparent film, and a rear face formed of aglass. The input unit 34 may be designed such that the transparent filmof the surface slightly bends (strains) in proportion to pressure whenan operation face is pressed.

In addition, in the input apparatus according to the present embodiment,a strain gauge sensor for detecting the pressure load (pressure) appliedon the input unit 34 is provided, adhered or the like, to thetransparent film on the surface of the input unit 34 near each sidecovered by the upper cover 14. Moreover, in the input apparatus, thepiezoelectric element or the ultrasound transducer for vibrating theinput unit 34 is provided, adhered or the like, to the face of the glasson the rear side of the input unit 34 near each of two opposed sides.That is, in the input apparatus shown in FIG. 3, the load detection unit40 and the vibration unit 50 shown in FIG. 2 include four strain gaugesensors and two vibrators, respectively. It is to be noted that thehousing 12, the upper cover 14 and the insulator 16 shown in FIG. 3(A)are omitted in FIG. 3(B).

In the input apparatus according to the present embodiment, the controlunit 20 monitors an input detected by the input unit 34 and a pressureload detected by the load detection unit 40. If a pressure inputdetected by the input unit 34 is an input to an input object displayedon the display unit 32 and the pressure load detected by the loaddetection unit 40 satisfies a predetermined standard for receiving aninput, the control unit 20 receives such an input as a normal input.Hereinafter, this “standard for receiving an input” is referred to as a“load standard”, simply. In addition, when the input satisfies the loadstandard, the control unit 20 controls the vibration unit 50 to generatevibration such that the vibration is given to an object pressing theinput unit 34 such as the user's finger or the stylus. The loaddetection unit 40 detects the load from, for example, an average outputvalue of the four strain gauge sensors. Additionally, the vibration unit50 drives, for example, two ultrasound transducers in phase. Since thevibration unit 50 generates vibration when the load standard issatisfied, the user can recognize that the pressure input by the user isreceived appropriately.

Next, a summary of processing according to the present embodiment,carried out when interruption by an input object occurs, is described.Here, an “interruption” by the input object indicates a state in which,during reception of an input by the user to an input object beingdisplayed based on operation by an application, another input object isdisplayed on the same screen based on activation of another applicationand the like. It is considered that such an “interruption” may occurwhen there is a request to display an input object on the same positionof another input object displayed based on an application alreadyrunning, other than a case where another application is activated. Inorder to carry out the processing, the control unit 20 first predefinesthe load standard for determining an input to the input unit 34 as anormal input to the input object displayed on the display unit 32 beforethe interruption occurs. The following is a description of the loadstandard.

FIG. 4 is a graph schematically illustrating an exemplary chronologicalchange in the pressure load (pressure) detected by the load detectionunit 40 when the user performs operation inputs by pressing the inputunit 34 of the touch panel 30. Generally, when performing operation topress (pressure input) the input unit 34 of the touch panel 30, the usercontinues to increase pressure on the input unit 34 (that is, the userpresses the input unit 34 down) from when the user touches the inputunit 34 until determining that the input is received. From a pointdetermining that the input is received, the user reduces the pressure onthe input unit 34 (that is, releases a finger or the like from the inputunit 34). Accordingly, as represented by a curved line shown in FIG. 4,the load detected by the load detection unit 40 is first increasedupward and then reduced downward with time passing from the left side tothe right side.

As a premise of the processing carried out when the interruption by theinput object occurs, the control unit 20 first sets a load standardvalue P1 based on a normal pressure at a normal operation input to thedisplay unit 32 (or the input unit 34) by the user. Based on thissetting, when the load detection unit 40 detects a pressure loadexceeding the P1 (A1), which is the normal pressure at the normaloperation input by the user, the control unit 20 determines that theinput object displayed on the display unit 32 is pressed. In addition,if the load detection unit 40 detects that the load pressure on theinput object being pressed drops under the P1 (A2) (after A1), thecontrol unit 20 determines that the operation input to the input objectbeing pressed down is completed (confirmed).

It is preferred to use the load standard value P1 as a load standardvalue for operation inputs not only before the interruption by the inputobject but also when there is a normal operation input to the input unit43 (that is, when the interruption by the input object does not occur).Setting the load standard value P1 as stated above prevents fromdetermining a slight touch to the input unit 34 by the user as an input,thereby an unintended input by the user may be avoided.

In addition, setting the load standard value P1 as stated above enablesthe user to perform a repetitive tapping by pressing the same spot (thesame input object) on the input unit 34 multiple times continually,without releasing the finger from the input unit 34 each time. That is,even if the user's finger keeps touching the input unit 34, the user canmake the input unit 34 recognize such an input as the repetitivetapping, by adjusting strength of pressure by the finger to increase anddecrease across the load standard value P1. Since this input methodneeds only small strokes of the user's finger, the user mastering thismethod may quickly and easily input with a smaller movement of thefinger.

Next, according to the present embodiment, the control unit 20 sets aload standard value P2 based on a pressure larger than the normalpressure at the normal operation input to the input unit 34 by the user.According to the present embodiment, a pressure exceeding the loadstandard value P2 set in this manner is received as an input in theprocessing carried out when the interruption by the input object occurs.When the load detection unit 40 detects a pressure load exceeding the P2(B1), which is larger than the normal pressure (P1) at the normaloperation input by the user, on an input object displayed in aninterrupting manner, the control unit 20 determines that the inputobject is pressed. In addition, if the load detection unit 40 detectsthat the pressure load on the input object being pressed down dropsunder the P2 (B2) (after B1), the control unit 20 determines that theoperation input to the input object being pressed down is completed(confirmed). That is, the control unit 20 controls such that the loadstandard for receiving a pressure input to the input object displayed inthe interrupting manner on the display unit 32 is higher than the loadstandard for receiving a pressure input to the input object which hasbeen displayed on the display unit 32.

Accordingly, even if the input object displayed in the interruptingmanner is pressed with a normal pressure (under P2) at the normal inputoperation by the user, the control unit 20 does not receive such apressure input as an input to this object. However, only if a pressureexceeding the P2 larger than the normal pressure (P1) of the normaloperation input by the user is applied on this input object, the controlunit 20 accepts such a pressure input as an input.

In the above description, the load standard value is used as a “pressureload threshold” and it is determined that “the load standard issatisfied” if it is exceeded, by way of example. Although adetermination in this manner is applied in the following descriptions,there may also be other conditions to determine that “the load standardis satisfied”. For example, it is possible to determine that “the loadstandard is satisfied” if the pressure load of the pressure input to aninput object by the user reaches the above load standard value. Inaddition, it is also possible to determine that “the load standard issatisfied” if the pressure load indicating the above load standard valueis detected by the load detection unit 40.

Next, the processing and operations carried out when the interruption byan input object occurs is described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustratingthe processing and the operations of the input apparatus according tothe present embodiment carried out when the interruption by an inputobject occurs. The following is a description of a case that an inputobject is displayed in the interrupting manner while a message creationapplication is running to display character input objects on the displayunit 32 and inputs to the input unit 34 by the user are received.

It is considered that the interruption by an input object occurs when,for example, an application to inform the user of reception of anincoming call or a new message is activated, as stated above. Activationof the application based on an input intended by the user is notregarded as the interruption by the input object. In addition, it isalso considered that a request to display an entry form, a pop-up windowor the pop-up advertisement interrupts a web browser application whichhas been running. Since the processing and the operations in response toa normal operation input except the processing when the interruption byan input object occurs are the same as those of conventional arts,descriptions thereof are omitted.

According to the present embodiment, upon start of the processing forwhen the interruption by the input object occurs, the control unit 20first displays the input object on the display unit 32 of the touchpanel 30 in the interrupting manner (step S11). Then, the control unit20 determines whether an input by a user's finger or a stylus(hereinafter, abbreviated to a “user's input”) to the input unit 34 ofthe touch panel 30 is detected (step S12).

If the user's input to the input unit 34 is detected at step S12, thecontrol unit 20, based on an input from the input unit 34, determines aposition on the display unit 32, corresponding to a position on theinput unit 34 received the input (step S13). In addition, based on aresult of such determination, the control unit 20 determines whether theposition on the display unit 32 corresponding to the position where theinput is detected corresponds to a position of the input objectdisplayed in the interrupting manner. If such input position correspondsto the position of the input object displayed in the interrupting manner(Yes of step S13), the control unit 20 highlights this input object(step S14).

The highlight display at step S14 is an emphasizing display in order toinform the user that a finger or the like touches the input object. Forexample, when the user's input to the input object of a numeric key asshown in FIG. 6(A) is detected, the control unit 20 highlights the inputobject as shown in FIG. 6(B). Thereby, the user can visually recognizethat the input by the finger or the like touching the input unit 34 isappropriately detected by the input apparatus. Such highlight displayindicates a state that the user's finger or the like is simply touchingthe input unit 34 and, hence, it is not yet recognized at this pointthat the input is received (that is, the key is pressed).

Next, the control unit 20 determines whether the pressure load value Pdetected by the load detection unit 40 exceeds the load standard valueP2 (step S15). For the input object displayed in the interruptingmanner, the control unit 20 does not perform the processing for when aninput is received unless there is an input exceeding the load standardvalue P2. Accordingly, if the pressure load value P exceeding the loadstandard value P2 is not detected by the load detection unit 40 at stepS15, the control unit 20 determines whether the user's input to theinput unit 34 is released (step S16).

If it is determined at step S16 that the input is not released (that is,the user has not released the finger or the like from the input unit34), the control unit 20 returns to step S15 to monitor the pressureload value P detected by the load detection unit 40. If it is determinedat step S16 that the user's input to the input unit 34 is released, itis regarded that there is no input to the input object touched by theuser and the control unit 20 cancels the highlight display (step S17)and ends the processing.

Cancellation of the highlight display at step S17 is a display to informthe user that the input by the user's finger or the like to the inputunit 34 at a position corresponding to the input object is no longerdetected. For example, the control unit 20 cancels the highlight displayof the input object to which the user's input is detected, on thedisplay unit 32 and returns to a display as shown in FIG. 6(A). Thereby,the user can visually recognize that the input apparatus appropriatelydetects that the user's finger or the like which was touching the inputunit 34 is now released from the input unit 34.

In contrast, if the pressure load value P exceeding the load standardvalue P2 is detected by the load detection unit 40 at step S15, thecontrol unit 20 controls the vibration unit 50 to vibrate in order toinform the user of the pressure load value P exceeding the load standardvalue P2 (step S18). Although a vibration generated by the vibrationunit 50 in this case may be in the same pattern as vibrations for anyinput types of inputs, it is preferred to vibrate in a specific patternsuch that the user can recognize that the pressure load value P exceedsthe load standard value P2.

In addition, the control unit 20, at step S18, changes display of thedisplay unit 32 in order to indicate that the input object to which theinput is detected is pressed. That is, the control unit 20 switchesdisplay from the highlight display of the input object as shown in FIG.6(B) to the display indicating that the input object is pressed as shownin FIG. 6(C). Thereby, the user can visually recognize that the pressureinput by the user's finger or the like touching the input unit 34 isappropriately received as a pressure input to the input object by theinput apparatus.

After step S18, the control unit 20 determines whether the pressure ofthe user's input to the input unit 34 is reduced and the pressure loadvalue P detected by the load detection unit 40 becomes equal to or lowerthan the load standard value P2 (step S19). If it is determined at stepS19 that the pressure load value P becomes equal to or lower than theload standard value P2, the control unit 20 accepts that the operationinput, being received, to the input object displayed in the interruptingmanner is confirmed (step S20). That is, in the input processingaccording to the present embodiment, if compared to a mechanical key,reception of an input to a key is not confirmed when the key is presseddown but is confirmed when the key is released.

At step S20, in addition, the control unit 20 returns the display of thedisplay unit 32 to the highlight display in order to indicate that thepressure on the input object to which the input is detected is released.That is, for example, the control unit 20 returns the display indicatingthat the input object is pressed as shown in FIG. 6(C) to the highlightdisplay of the input object as shown in FIG. 6(B). Thereby, the user canvisually recognize that the pressure input to the input object isconfirmed as the input and that the input apparatus appropriatelyrecognizes that the pressure on the input object is reduced.

After step S20, the control unit 20 determines whether the user's inputto the input unit 34 is released (step S21). If it is determined at stepS21 that the input is not released (that is, the user has not releasedthe finger or the like from the input unit 34), the control unit 20continues to monitor the pressure load value P detected by the loaddetection unit 40. If it is determined at step S21 that the user's inputto the input unit 34 is released, the control unit 20 shifts to theabove step S17 to cancel the highlight display and ends the processing.

As stated above, after confirmation of the operation input at thepressure load exceeding the P2 to the input object displayed in theinterrupting manner, with regard to all input objects including thisinput object, an input is received at a normal pressure load exceedingthe P1. That is, it is preferred that the processing according to thepresent embodiment is carried out for an input object first displayed inthe interrupting manner when there is no other input object displayed inthat manner. Thereby, it can adequately avoid the unintended input bythe user. In addition, it allows the user to continue the inputoperation with a normal light pressure after the user once confirmed theinput to the input object displayed in the interrupting manner with anintended pressure input at a heavy pressure load (exceeding the P2).

On the other hand, if at step S13 the input position does not correspondto the position of the input object displayed in the interruptingmanner, the control unit 20 shifts to step S22 to highlight acorresponding input object. It is to be noted that the processing shiftsfrom step S13 to step S22 if the user's input to the input object isdetected but the input object is not displayed in the interruptingmanner. In this case, the input object is highlighted in the same manneras the highlight display at step S14.

Next, the control unit 20 determines whether the pressure load value Pdetected by the load detection unit 40 exceeds the load standard valueP1 (step S23). For the input object not displayed in the interruptingmanner, if there is an input exceeding the load standard value P1 butsmaller than the P2, the control unit 20 carries out the processing forwhen the input is received in the same manner as the normal operationinput. Accordingly, if the load pressure value P exceeding the loadstandard value P1 is not detected by the load detection unit 40 at stepS23, the control unit 20 determines whether the user's input to theinput unit 34 is released (step S24).

If it is determined at step S24 that the user's input is not released(that is, the user's finger or the like is not released from the inputunit 34), the control unit 20 returns to step S23 to monitor thepressure load value P detected by the load detection unit 40. If it isdetermined at step S24 that the user's input to the input unit 34 isreleased, the control unit 20 regards that there is no input to theinput object the user was touching, cancels the highlight display (stepS17) and then ends the processing.

In contrast, if the pressure load value P exceeding the load standardvalue P1 is detected by the load detection unit 40 at step S23, thecontrol unit 20 controls the vibration unit 50 to vibrate in order toinform the user of the pressure load value P exceeding the load standardvalue P1 (step S25). In this case also, although the vibration generatedby the vibration unit 50 may be in the same pattern as that for anytypes of inputs, it is preferred to vibrate in a specific pattern suchthat the user can recognize that the pressure load value P exceeds theload standard value P1.

At step S25, additionally, the control unit 20 changes the display ofthe display unit 32 to indicate that the input object to which the inputis detected is pressed. That is, for example, the highlight display ofthe input object as shown in FIG. 6(B) is switched to the displayindicating that the input object is pressed as shown in FIG. 6(C).Thereby, the user can visually recognize that the input apparatusappropriately receives the pressure input by the user's finger or thelike touching the input unit 34 as an input to the input object.

After step S 25, the control unit 20 determines whether the pressure ofthe user's input to the input unit 34 is reduced and the pressure loadvalue P detected by the load detection unit 40 becomes equal to or lowerthan the load standard value P1 (step S26). If it is determined at stepS26 that the pressure load value P becomes equal to or lower than theload standard value P1, the control unit 20 accepts that the operationinput to the input object currently receiving the input is confirmed(step S27).

At step S27, additionally, the control unit 20 returns the display ofthe display unit 32 to the highlight display in order to indicate thatthe pressure on the input object to which the input is detected isreleased. That is, for example, the control unit 20 returns the displayindicating that the input object is pressed as shown in FIG. 6(C) to thedisplay highlighting the input object as shown in FIG. 6(B). Thereby,the user can visually recognize that the pressure input to the inputobject is confirmed as an input, and that the input apparatusappropriately recognizes that the pressure on the input object isreduced.

After step S27, the control unit 20 determines whether the user's inputto the input unit 34 is released (step S21). If it is determined at stepS21 that the input is not released (that is, the user has not releasedthe finger or the like from the input unit 34), the control unit 20continues to monitor the pressure load value P detected by the loaddetection unit 40. If it is determined at step S21 that the user's inputto the input unit 34 is released, the control unit 20 shifts to theabove step S17 to cancel the highlight display and ends the processing.

The operations by the processing as stated above will be described indetail by using a typical embodiment. As shown in FIG. 7(A), forexample, it is assumed that the message creation application is runningto display the character input objects on the display unit 32 of thetouch panel 30 and the user's input to the input unit 34 is beingreceived. The normal operation input such as a character input to createa message as stated above is performed at a pressure load exceeding theload standard value P1 at 1 N (Newton), for example, based on the normalpressure of the normal operation input by the user.

It is assumed that an incoming call is received while the characterinput is received by the message creation application. When the incomingcall is received, an application for a telephone call is activated andinput objects “Answer” and “Reject” are displayed in the interruptingmanner as shown in FIG. 7(B). In order to input effectively to the inputobject displayed in the interrupting manner, the user needs to performan operation input at a pressure load exceeding the load standard valueP2 (B1), which is 3 N for example, larger than the normal pressure (P1)of the normal operation input.

Accordingly, even if the user inputs to the input unit 34 being unawareof an incoming call screen suddenly displayed during the character inputto create a message, such an unintended input to the “Answer” key or the“Reject” key is not received. Also, even if the user inputs to the inputunit 34 as it is too late to change operation from being aware of theincoming call screen suddenly displayed while the user inputs charactersin a message, such an unintended input to the key is not received,either.

According to the present embodiment, as stated above, a load greater(heavier) than the pressure load based on the normal operation input isset only for a first pressure input to the input object displayed in theinterrupting manner on the display unit 32. A type of such an input bythe pressure load greater (heavier) than that of the normal operationinput differs from various input types (for example, holding down and adouble pressing such as a double click) regarded as normal inputmethods. Accordingly, since an input in one of the various input typesregarded as the normal input methods to the input object displayed inthe interrupting manner is not received, an incorrect input unintendedby the user is not received as an effective input. That is, an input byan unintended operation by the user is avoided.

Additionally, if the user is aware of the incoming call screen suddenlydisplayed while inputting characters in a message, the user purposelyperforms the operation input with a pressure heavier to some extent thanthe normal pressure of the normal operation input. Thereby, the pressureinput to the “Answer” key or the “Reject” key according to a user'sintention is effectively received.

In the processing according to the present embodiment, when an inputobject is displayed in the interrupting manner, it is preferred toindicate, for the user, that this input object needs to be pressed witha pressure heavier than that of the normal operation input. For example,as the input objects of the “Answer” key and the “Reject” key shown inFIG. 7(B), it is possible to emphasize input objects being displayed inthe interrupting manner by displaying the input objects on the displayunit 32 at a display state with different colors or the like from keysof other input objects. It is also possible to display the input objectsdisplayed in the interrupting manner on the display unit 32 togetherwith a note such as “Touch key strongly”, for example, as shown in FIG.7(C).

Now, another embodiment is described. It is assumed that the web browserapplication is running to display an internet website on the displayunit 32 of the touch panel 30 and the user's inputs to the input unit 34are being received as shown in FIG. 8(A), for example. In the screenshown in FIG. 8(A), underlined character strings (links) are inputobjects that allow the user to jump to another page (site) upon beingpressed. The normal operation input such as a pressure input to the linkto another page is performed by a pressure load exceeding the pressurestandard value P1, which is 1 N for example, based on the normalpressure of the normal operation input by the user.

It is assumed that there is a request to the web browser application todisplay a pop-up advertisement while the pressure input to the link isperformed using the application. When the request to display the pop-upadvertisement is processed, the input object of the pop-up advertisementis displayed in the interrupting manner on the display unit 32 as shownin FIG. 8(B). In order that an input to the input object displayed inthe interrupting manner is effectively received, it is necessary for theuser to perform an operation input with a pressure load exceeding theload standard value P2 (B1), which is 3 N for example, greater than thenormal pressure (P1) of the normal operation input.

Accordingly, even if the user inputs to the input unit 34 being unawareof the pop-up advertisement suddenly displayed at the moment that theuser tires to press the link to jump, such an unintended input to thepop-up advertisement is not received. Also, even if the user inputs tothe input unit 34 as it is too late to change operation from being awareof the pop-up advertisement suddenly displayed at the moment that theuser tires to press the link to jump, such an unintended input to thepop-up advertisement is not received, either.

Additionally, if the user is aware of the pop-up advertisement suddenlydisplayed, the user purposely performs an operation input to it with apressure heavier to some extent than the normal pressure of the normaloperation input. Thereby, the input to the pop-up advertisementaccording to a user's intention is effectively accepted.

In the processing according to the present embodiment, when the inputobject such as the pop-up advertisement and the like is displayed in theinterrupting manner, it is preferred to indicate, for the user, thatthis input object needs to be pressed with a pressure larger than thatof the normal operation input. For example, as the input object of thepop-up advertisement shown in FIG. 8(B), it is possible to emphasize theinput object being displayed in the interrupting manner by displayingthe input object on the display unit 32 at a display state withdifferent colors or the like from keys of other input objects. It isalso possible to display the input object displayed in the interruptingmanner on the display unit 32 together with the note such as “Touch keystrongly”, for example, as shown in FIG. 8(C).

There may be a case that a plurality of input objects such as inputobjects originally displayed and another input object displayed in theinterrupting manner are mixed, as shown in FIGS. 8(B) and (C). In thiscase also, by the processing according to the present embodiment, theuser can perform a normal operation input with a normal pressureexceeding the P1 to the input objects originally displayed. In contrast,an input to the input object displayed in the interrupting manner is notregarded as an input unless the pressure exceeds the P2 greater thanthat of the normal operation input. Accordingly, even when a pluralityof input objects are mixed, it is possible to distinctively input to theinput object originally displayed and an input to the input objectdisplayed in the interrupting manner.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to theembodiments set forth above but may be modified or varied in a multiplemanner. For example, although in the above embodiments it is assumed topredefine the load standard values P1 and P2, it is desired to allow theuser to change or adjust them appropriately as necessary. Thereby, it ispossible to appropriately adjust the values later if the user feelsuncomfortable about them during operation.

In the processing according to the above embodiment, it is determinedthat an input is not confirmed yet when the pressure load value exceedsthe P1 or the P2 but it is confirmed when the pressure load falls downto equal to or less than the P1 or P2 after exceeding the P1 or the P2.However, it is also possible to simplify the processing by confirmingthe input at a point when the pressure load value reaches or exceeds theP1 or the P2.

In addition, in the above embodiments the vibration unit 40 is vibratedwhen the pressure load of the user's input exceeds the P1 or the P2, inorder to inform the user accordingly. However, in such a case it is notessential to vibrate but it is possible to generate a specific soundfrom the audio output unit 80. Additionally, it is also possible toindicate that the pressure load of the user's input exceeds the P1 orthe P2, by altering the color or a display state of the input objectreceiving the input on the display unit 32.

Moreover, in addition to embodiments described above, it is alsopossible to vibrate the vibration unit 40 at steps S20 and S27, forexample, in order to indicate that user's input is appropriatelyprocessed.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

According to the present invention, the load standard for receiving apressure input to an input object displayed in the interrupting manneris set higher than the load standard for receiving a pressure input to anormal input object (not displayed in the interrupting manner). Thereby,it is possible to perform the normal pressure input to a normal inputobject (not displayed in the interrupting manner) based on a user'sintention. In contrast, an operation input to an input object displayedin the interrupting manner is not received unless it has a pressure loadsatisfying the load standard higher than that for the normal input.Accordingly, it is possible to avoid an unintended operation input bythe normal input to the input object suddenly displayed in theinterrupting manner. In addition, in order to perform an input operationwith intention of inputting to the input object displayed in theinterrupting manner, the user performs a pressure input with a pressureload satisfying the load standard higher than that for the normal input.Thereby, the user can perform the operation input based on the user'sintention.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   10 mobile phone-   20 control unit-   30 touch panel-   32 display unit-   34 input unit-   40 load detection unit-   50 vibration unit-   60 memory unit-   70 audio input unit-   80 audio output unit-   90 key input unit

The invention claimed is:
 1. An input apparatus comprising: a displayunit for displaying an input object; an input unit for detecting apressure input to the input object displayed on the display unit; a loaddetection unit for detecting a pressure load on the input unit; and acontrol unit that controls to: set a first standard pressure load forreceiving a pressure input to a first input object which has beendisplayed on the display unit; determine an occurrence of a display of asecond input object to the display unit in an interrupting manner beforea pressure input is detected to a first input object which has beendisplayed on the display unit; and set a second standard pressure load,that is higher than the first standard pressure load, for receiving apressure input to the second input object based on a result of thedetermination, wherein the interrupting manner is not caused by anypressure input applied to the input unit.
 2. The input apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the interrupting manner includes a state in which whenthe first input object has been displayed on the display based on anoperation by an application, the second object is displayed on thedisplay based on an activation of another application.
 3. A controlmethod of an input apparatus comprising a display unit for displaying aninput object, an input unit for detecting a pressure input to the inputobject displayed on the display unit, a load detection unit fordetecting a pressure load on the input unit, the control methodcomprising the step of: controlling by: setting a first standardpressure load for receiving a pressure input to a first input objectwhich has been displayed on the display unit; determining an occurrenceof a display of a second input object to the display unit in aninterrupting manner before a pressure input is detected to a first inputobject which has been displayed on the display unit; and setting asecond standard pressure load, that is higher than the first standardpressure load, for receiving a pressure input to the second input objectbased on a result of the determination, wherein the interrupting manneris not caused by any pressure input applied to the input unit.